Museums and Galleries

Fremantle Museum and Arts Centre Western Australia's museums and galleries are as varied as its heritage, colourful as its culture and numerous as its pool of local talent.

Indigenous Culture

Start at the beginning and discover Australian Aboriginal culture. The Kodja Place, in the south west town of Kojonup, showcases indigenous life 'in the bush', while Aboriginal art galleries - representing both traditional Dreaming stories and interpretations of contemporary issues - are spread throughout the State.

Appreciate Art and History Close to the City

The Perth Cultural Centre in Northbridge is the place for art lovers to spend glorious hours of browsing.

The Art Gallery of Western Australia has more than a thousand pieces, both Australian and international. It is well known for its superb collection of Indigenous artwork. The Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts has space for contemporary collections and performing arts whilst the Photography Gallery of Western Australia exhibits a wide range of photography. All buildings are conveniently located together.

In the same precinct, the Western Australian Museum takes you back three and a half billion years to the origin of our ancient land. Explore Australian Aboriginal culture, the effects of European settlement and a diversity of wildlife.
Fremantle Prison
An integral thread woven throughout Western Australia's heritage is its relationship with the ocean. You can hear, see and 'breathe' maritime adventure at the Western Australian Maritime Museum and Shipwreck Galleries in Fremantle.

For an intriguing heritage tour, visit Fremantle Prison, where guides tell of impossible escapes and evening tours revisit ghosts of the past.

Museums and Galleries Further Afield

Pioneer history will lead you up into the hills and beyond. The No 1 Pump Station at Mundaring celebrates an amazing engineering achievement, when water was first piped nearly 600 kilometres from Perth to the parched goldfields.

Try your hand at panning for gold and explore an old mine shaft at the award-winning Australian Prospectors Mining Hall of Fame in Kalgoorlie, the heart of gold country.

York, Western Australia's first inland European settlement, has retained its historic feel with heritage buildings and art and craft galleries. Jah Roc Mill Gallery, for example, is famous for furniture handcrafted from salvaged wood and surrounded by studios and craft workshops. Visit York's treasure-house of history, The Residency Museum and glimpse into the lives of the people who created York.

The Swan Valley and South West are also home to a vast number of galleries and studios. There are many local artists and craftspeople in the Margaret River area, which is also where you'll find the iconic Busselton Jetty Interpretive Centre, another must-see for maritime discovery and a glimpse of the jetty's long heritage.

Perth Cultural Experience

1 Day

Perth has a unique blend of arts and cultural activities to entertain even the most discerning traveller.

Fremantle Cottesloe Art Scene

1 Day

Cosmopolitan Fremantle's historic buildings and lanes have created an enclave for artists and their enterprises. Cottesloe also houses respected Australian artists and is the perfect spot for a sunset drink.